USL MATCH RECAP | OKC Energy FC 0, Portland Timbers 2: 3

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – Closing out a three-match road trip, T2 registered a 3-0 shutout victory on the road against OKC Energy FC Saturday night at Taft Stadium. Defender Lamar Batista and forward Foster Langsdorf each scored their first career goals, while midfielder Victor Arboleda scored in his second straight appearance. Additionally, forward Augustine Williams registered his first two assists of the season.

Timbers on loan
Seven Portland Timbers players started for T2 in tonight’s match. Forward Jeremy Ebobisse made his fifth straight start of the season, while Arboleda appeared in his fourth match in 2018. Timbers goalkeeper Kendall McIntosh made his third straight appearance, posting his second straight shutout. Defender Modou Jadama earned his fifth straight start. Midfielder Eryk Williamson made his third start of the season, while Langsdorf earned his second start of 2018. Defender Vytas, playing on loan from the Timbers, made his first start of the USL campaign, playing 59 minutes.

T2 against OKC Energy FC
With the win, T2 are now 3-3-0 in six all-time matches against OKC Energy FC dating back June 5, 2015.

Stout defense
Portland secured its second consecutive shutout, and its third shutout overall this season. Additionally, Portland did not allow a single shot on goal, the first time that feat has occurred in the club’s four-year history.

Key plays
Starting the match on the front foot, Langsdorf played in Ebobisse on the right edge of the box, firing his shot his shot into the arms of Energy FC goalkeeper Matt Van Oekel in the sixth minute. Six minutes later, Williamson’s delivery from a corner kick picked out Jadama, whose header forced Van Oekel into a strong save in the center of goal.

Continuing to apply pressure, an off-balance shot from Williams was saved by Van Oekel in the 14th minute.

T2 took a 1-0 lead in the 34th minute when Williams, attacking down the right wing, floated a cross into the center of the penalty area that found Langsdorf. Catching the ball on the volley, Langsdorf redirected his effort into the far corner of the net to record his first professional goal.

Nine minutes into the start of the second half, Portland doubled its lead when Williams released Arboleda in behind the OKC defense, slotting the ball past Van Oekel at the near post in the 54th minute. With his second assist of the night, Williams became the sixth player in team history to register two assists in a match. Timbers defender Marco Farfan last accomplished the feat against LA Galaxy II on July 9, 2017. T2 nearly scored again when Arboleda slid in Langsdorf behind the Energy FC defender, but his shot was parried away aside by Van Oekel in the 75th minute.

After Langsdorf was fouled inside the box, Batista, playing in his hometown of Oklahoma City, stepped up to the penalty spot and converted his penalty attempt in the 84th minute to give T2 a 3-0 advantage.

Next Game
Next up, T2 will play host to Rio Grande Valley FC Toros in the home opener at Merlo Field on Wednesday, April 18. Beginning at 7 p.m. (Pacific), the match against RGV FC Toros will be streamed live on ESPN+.

Postgame Quote SheetT2 head coach Cameron KnowlesOn his overall thoughts on the match after the win on the road…
“I thought it was a really, really good performance from the players. From start to finish, they really applied themselves well. They worked very, very hard. They solved problems on the field and I think the players have to take the upmost credit for that performance in the end of a difficult stretch on the road.”

On some of the standout performances from tonight’s victory…
“Lamar [Batista] found himself in a position where he wasn’t starting the game and I think he performed well coming in. He had a lot of family and friends from the area at the game, so it was a big moment for him. I’m really happy he got the goal. For Victor [Arboleda], it was reward for his hard work. He’s been working hard and he’s been dangerous and creating things for us. He created chances for us in our last game as well. It was a big moment for Foster [Langsdorf]. He scored his first professional goal and, similar to Victor, it’s a reward for his hard work. He put a lot of good work into that match. He’s applied a lot of things that we’ve tried to get into him in a short amount of time. I think he played his role really well. Adding to that, Augustine Williams had two assists on the day. There were a lot of good performances from a lot of guys. The goals are one storyline from that.”

On heading into the home opener at Merlo Field against Rio Grande Valley FC Toros on April 18…
“It’s going to be a big one. It’s going to be our first home game. It’s at a fantastic facility. It’s the first time that these players get to play in front of the best supporters in the country. That’s going to be really exciting for them and I’m sure there’s going to be a lot of emotions involved in that. We’ve got to prepare for a very difficult team and we’ve got to move past this difficult road stretch and essentially this first phase of our season and reboot and get ready for the next stretch."